The brood nest of the ant-plant ant Azteca is a mix of ant larvae (the larger grubs) and Beltian food bodies (the smaller ovoids). The Cecropia tree housing the ants also produces Beltian bodies as nourishment to the larvae. Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
The brood nest of the ant-plant ant Azteca holds a mix of ant larvae (the larger grubs) and Beltian food bodies (the smaller ovoids). Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
Ants won't often eat members of their own species, but they are happy to consume the dead bodies of other types of ants. Here, fiesty little Azteca ants cooperate to lug the remains of a leafcutter ant worker back to their nest, where it will be fed to the developing larvae. Potrerillo, Tolima, Colombia
